Forum Topic

Reasons why Brentford is Brilliant

Following Helen Martin's lead (see thread on Xmas lights), here are my top ten reasons why Brentford is brilliant:- fabulous, friendly fun neighbours- the Brewery Tap:  live music and the best pints of Chiswick and Pride in London.  Followed by the Magpie.-  the Butts- Johnson's Island- gigs at St Pauls, the Docking Station (and even Watermans this year) and the mini music festivals in the market place.-  walks along the Thames, the smell of the river and wood smoke from the canal boats- three historic houses: Syon Park, Gunnersbury, and Boston Manor- Brompton Bicycles-  Griffin Park: the friendliest fooball club-  the architecture of Nowell Parr: the library, fire station and old swimming baths.What's you top ten?

Adam Jackson ● 4989d5 Comments

It's a fascinating place with a whole variety of images as mentioned in the replies above.One minute a great fry-up breakfast at Ron's cafe at the  Age Concern Centre in Albury Road..and hours later unlimited glasses of a fabulous Perrier Jouet champagne at a Brentford High Street event at the local Waldorf Astoria Hotel!The local history of the area is a knock out with so much to learn and appreciate. There's no end of things to observe. Lot's of interesting roads.. and pathways..odd sites and sights!Yes, I love the topiary too..all the whales, the steam engines and the tea cakes too!Being a Poppy Seller at Morrisons recently was a revelation too... meeting such a mass of friendly interesting people in a non-political way!I agree "Brentford is Brilliant".

Jim Lawes ● 4987d

I love Brentford Jon ,but you have to be joking about the Dew Drop.

Keith Iddon ● 4987d

hi brentford is such a friendly place but you have forgotton about the musical museum lovely tea room with great views over the river and also open house at st pauls great christmas lunch  linda

Linda Butler ● 4987d

This is why Brentford is Brilliant - Above all the friends I've made there - the fact that Brentford knows how to party (evidence: the St Georges day and Royal Wedding celebrations) - The Tropical Zoo - go see it before it de-camps to a new site in Feltham adjacent to the Urban Farm - running along the canal towpath - the Bedouin tent feel to St Paul's Church - the resilience of its community and eccentricity of many of its inhabitants - R & M Rentals in Albany Parade - the Dew Drop Cafe - best 'heart-attack-on-a-plate' breakfast - the Watermans - as a tricyclist, the fact it is largely flat!

Jon Hardy ● 4988d

Adam, here are some of mine (though I've had to be creative as you chose lots of my favourites as well).- the un-twee-ness of our bit of river, with its mud and boatyards, brutalist Barbican-like Brentford Dock, general industrial raggedness, and the protected and unspoilt view of Kew Gardens- unusual topiary (the whale in Clifden Road, train alongside the station platform)- the slightly Blade Runnerish feeling of the buildings by the M4 flyover, with the tall new buildings alongside the Victorian churches and terraced houses- the many long, bulging, wonky brick walls- the fact that I have lived here for ten years and still stumble on odd little bits where I've never been- a long walk along the river and/or canal, stopping for a tea/coffee/cake/pint somewhere nearby (Kew,The Original Maids of Honour, Richmond, Old Isleworth, Strand on the Green, Ham House, Orleans House, Marble Hill, St Margaret's, The Fox in Hanwell, etc) before heading home- the cows in the field at Syon Park- the beehive on The Beehive- the extraordinary Brentford institution that is Goddard's (and their Christmas decorations)- the Brentford is Brilliant lights in front of a derelict building is a Very Brentford Thing (thinking of making that next year's Christmas card)- flying into Heathrow, I look down and see the tower blocks and I know I'm almost home

Holly Hodges ● 4988d